On February 26 and 27, an inception meeting was held in Coronie, Wageningen and Nieuw Nickerie, within the scope of the “Strengthening the Resilience of Small-Scale Rural Enterprises through the Promotion and Adoption of Innovative Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Coastal Mangrove Ecosystems in the Western Districts of Coronie, Nickerie and North Commewijne, Suriname” Project. This initiative is a fruit of a partnership between the Mangrove+ Project and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in Suriname. The inception meeting was attended by representatives from fisheries organizations, beekeepers, District Commissioner’s Office, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry (LVV).

Project activities will engage with beekeeper organizations and fishers’ collectives from the Bigi Pan MUMA, North Coronie MUMA, fish processors in the North Commewijne MUMA, with the support the Ministries of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, of Natural Resources, as well as the Ministry of Regional Development and Sport.

This joined effort aims to help small-scale rural enterprises strengthen their resilience by providing training, workshops and thematic seminars, and supports enhancement of their production processes and competitiveness through capacity building. Additionally, to help these enterprises expand their networks of customers, distributors and buyers by facilitating their access to congresses and fairs. 

During this meeting, Ms. Farah Anup-Debie, Beekeeping Coordinator from LVV, shared data regarding the gap between Suriname’s honey production and consumption, emphasizing that there is room for growth. Beekeepers in attendance shared more insight into limiting factors and their approaches to addressing current challenges in their production processes. Additionally, participants exchanged thoughts on competitiveness within the Surinamese market, considering production costs structure, product presentation, as well as the quality of the local honey products and compared these with international brands being sold locally. 

The discussions held during the inception meetings underscore the importance of inclusive collaboration in advancing climate-resilient livelihoods. Building on the priorities identified by local stakeholders, the project will continue to support communities in adopting sustainable practices and strengthening value chains that contribute to both economic empowerment and environmental stewardship. Through these efforts, partners of the initiative reaffirm their commitment to fostering resilient coastal ecosystems and enhancing the capacities of rural enterprises to thrive in a changing climate. 

The Mangrove+ Project is funded by the European Union (EU), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the Government of Suriname.